Apparatus for treating sweet potatoes.



No. 648,248. Patented Apr. 24,1900,

G. H. EDWARDS.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SWEET POTATOES.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(Application filed Dec. 18, 1899.) (N o M o d el 'No. 648,248. PatentedApr. 24, I900. a. H. EDWARDS.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SWEET POTATOES.

(Application filed Dec. 18, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

GEORGE H. EDWARDS, OF cHIoAeo, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SWEET POTATOES.

srncrrrca'rron forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,248, dated April24, 1900, Application filed December 18, 1899. Serial lie-310,689. (Nomodel.) K i To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for TreatingSweet Potatoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in to an apparatus to be used forpreparing sweet potatoes for desiccation and preserving thembydesiccation; and it consists incertain pecullarities 1n theconstruction, novel arrangement,and operation of the various partsthereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specificallyclaimed. The objects of my invention are, ,first, to

providean apparatus whereby the pulp of the potatoes may be readily andeconomically separated from the skins and divided into small particlesor shreds; second, to provide means for forcing currents ofsterilizedand moder-' ated air against the particles of pulp as soon asthey leave the skins and afterward; third,

to furnish means for conveying the shreds or particles of pulp over asubjacent heater and at the same time for forcing a current of airagainst or above said particles of pulp to. remove therefrom thesaturated air, and, fourth,

to provide means whereby the movement of the press employed forseparating the pulp from the skins of the potatoes may be regulated,without .reference to the resistance thereof, so that the downwardmotion of the press may be slow, While its upward motion shall be rapid,to save time.

Unlike any-other vegetable or natural arti-' cle of food, as far as I amaware, the sweet potato contains starch, sugar, and gluten to 4o such anextent that it decays very rapidly,

and repeated efiorts to dry or evaporate this vegetable for the purposeof preserving it with the proper flavor and color have hitherto provenunsuccessful. I have discovered by long experiment that this failure-isdue to the fact, first, that a temperature of over 165 Fahrenheitconverts the starch into dextrin,

and, second, that the germs of fermentation existing in warm atmosphericair when ap- 5o plied to the pulp quickly-sour the sugar. To

avoid the production of dextrin,the pulp. must never be raised to atemperature above 165.

until its temperature is reduced below 165,

and then applying this moderated sterilized air'iii a blast to theshredded 'puipbf'me sweet potato in the open air and in such way as todissipate the moisture-and germs of fer mentation overhanging themachine and not permit them to come in contact with the pulp or at leastnot until the same has been partially dried. In the present applicationI have shown one type of machine for carrying out. that process, and inaddition to blowing the sterilized and-moderated air upon the pulp fromabove as it passes through the machine I also heat the pulp-carryingtrays from beneath by any suitable means,such as steamcoils or the like.This practically doubles .the speedwit-h which the drying is effectedwithout losing'any of the advantages of the process in the other case.

I am aware that it is old to apply a current of air. at a very hightemperature (such as 300) to desiccated food products for the pur-=,pose of cooking them, that it is old in many instances to apply blastsof hot air for drying purposes, and that one device has been pat-- outedfor drying the waste products from breweries through thejuse of a hotblast consistingof the products of combustion from a furnace mingledwith the atmospheric air; but in all such instances the apparatus islocated within a closed chamber. or machine has been devised, to myknowledge, which will successfully dry the pulp of a sweet potato so asto preserve it, and the present invention is designed to serve that endand yet accomplish it out of doors, in any season or climate, and onsuch a large scale, and yet so economically, that the product will be acommercial possibility.

In order to enable others skilled in the art N 0 process and a, as isclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of to which my invention pertains to makeand. use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ofmy ap paratus, showing the parts inposition ready for use. Fig. 2 is aview in elevation of the end of the apparatus carrying the drivingmechanism for the press or separator. Fig. 3 is a detached view of thelever used for changing the speed of the driving mechanism and showing asheave and friction-wheels journaled thereon. Fig. 4is a sectional viewof the box of the separator or press. is a fragmental view of one of thetrays to receive the particles of pulp, showing a means for connectingit to a traveling cable, Fig. 6 is a fragment of the perforated plateused in the' box or separator, and Fig. 7 is a similar view of a wiresieve also used in the'box or the press.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views ofthe drawings.

A represents the main or supporting frame for the press or separator andits operating mechanism, which frame comprises uprights or standards a,a, and a, on which the various shafts of the driving mechanism arejournaled.

Located at a suitable point between the uprights a, and a is a box B,the top of which is open and the bottom of which is provided with aplate B, having a series of perforations b of any suitable size. Withinthe box B is placed a wire sieve B on which the potatoes are placed whenit is desiredto separate the pulp thereof from the skin. Located abovethe box B, so as to M therein, is a plunger 0, which is carried by ayoke C, vertically and movably mounted between the standards a thedrawings. To the lower ends of the yoke C are connected pitman-rods 0whose other ends are connected to a crank-shaft D, suitably journaled onthe supporting frame. Mounted on the crank-shaft D is "a gear d, whichmeshes with a gear (1' on the countershaft D, which shaft also carries agear d which meshes with a gear (1 on a shaft D This shaft I call thespeed-shaft, because through it the proper speeds of movement of theplunger are produced. It carries large and small gears d and d, theformer of which meshes with a smaller gear (1 mounted on a stub-shaft Dwhich carries a friction-wheel d to contact with a friction-wheel dmounted on the driving-shaft D,which has its bea rlugs or journal-boxese verticallyadjustable on the upper portions of the standards a and a ofthe supporting-frame. Fulcrumed' on the upper portion of thesupporting-frame is a rocking lever E, which has its ends connect:v edto the journal-boxes e of the driving-shaft D byflmeans of rods or bars6, thus suspending said shaft. Fivotally secured at one of its ends toone of the boxes e is a rod e whose other end is pivotally secured to ahand-le- Fig. 5

ver E, fulcrumed on 'the lower portion of the supporting-frame.

Mounted on the driving-shaft D isa double power-pulley D andafriction-wheel dfiwhich wheel is'to contact with the friction-wheel (1mounted on the stub-shaft d, on which is also mounted a gear d, whichmeshes with the gear on the speed-shaft D Mounted on the shaft G is apulley g, which is connected to a pulley g by means of a belt gthepulley 9 being mounted on a shaft of a blower or fan G, located nearthe box B or separator. Passing over the pulley g and another pulley gon the shaft of the blower G 'is a belt 9 which drives the last-namedpulley. Mounted on the shaft G is a pulley h, which of a belt 9 Theshaft H, on which the pulley h is mounted, is journaled on a box-frameH, in which are located steam-pipes H and which frame extends from nearthe separator to any desired distance. On the shaft H is mounted aroller '5, over which passes an endless belt vl, which also passes underthe separator and over idle rollers v? and t mounted on suitable shaftsjournaled on the supporting-frame. Mounted on the shaft G is a pulley77. which is connected to a pulley h by means of a belt Z, thelast-named pulley being mounted on a shaft L, journaled on the mainframe, on the opposite end of which shaft is mounted a pulley h, whichis connected to a pulley 72. by means of a belt 1'.

On the shaft L, on which the pulley k is mounted, is also mounted asheave h, over which passes a cable m, used for carrying the trays alongthe box-frame H, which, as before stated, is provided with steam pipes.The cable m passes over a pulley or sheave 723, j ournaled on thefarther end of the box-frame,

beyond which is the receptacle (not shown) into which the treatedproduct is delivered by'the trays. I

Located at a suitable point, but usually near the frame H, is a chamberor compartment N, in which is located a coil of steam-pipe N, which isconnected at one of its ends to a source of steam-supply. (Not shown.)The upper portion of the receptacle or chamber N is provided with avalve 71. for the intake of air. Extending from the lower portion of thereceptacle N and communicating with another receptacle 0 is a pipe 0,which conveys the heated air from the compartment N to the compartment0, the last-named compartment being providedv with afcoil O ofwater-pipe to be usedfor moderating the heat of the air. Leading fromthe compartment or receptacle 0 are pipes P and'P, which communicatewith the casings of the blowers upon which the wheels p of the trays 1)may travel, which trays may be made of any suitable size, form ,:andmaterial and are for the pulleys one of ley on the driving-shaft, andmeans for di-' recting' blasts of hot sterilized air onto the pulp uponthis belt and immediately as it issues from the bottom of said box, asand for the purpose set forth.

6. In an apparatus for drying sweet potatoes, the combination with amain frame supporting a box having a foraminous bottom, a plungertherein, a driving-shaft having two pulleys one of them belted to asource of power, and connections between this shaft and the plunger formoving the latter; of an open box-frame having tracks, trays movingthereon, subjacent steam-pipes for heating said trays from beneath, anendless belt leading from beneath'the box and delivering onto saidtrays, connections between this belt and the other pulley on thedriving-shaft, and means for directing a blast of hot sterilized aironto the pulp immediately as it issues from the bottom of said box, asand for the purpose set forth.

7. In an apparatus for drying sweet potatoes, the combination with amain frame supporting a box having a foraminous bottom, a

plunger therein, a driving-shaft, and com-rec tions between this-shaftand the plunger for moving the latter; of tracks, trays. moving thereon,subjacent steam-pipes heating said trays from beneath, a cable to whichthe trays are attached, an endless belt leading from beneath the box anddelivering onto said trays, connections leading from the drivingshaftfor moving said cable and endless belt, and means for directing a blastof hot sterilized air onto the pulp immediately as it issues from thebottom of said box, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an'apparatus for treating sweet potatoes, the combination withmeans for separating the pulp from the skins, a series-of moving trays,and an endless belt delivering the pulp from the separator onto thetrays,

the whole being located in the open air; of a fan delivering a blast ofair onto the pn p as it issues from the separator, two closed chambersconnected by a pipe, one of them having an air-intake and the otherbeing connected with said fan, steam heating coils within the firstchamber for raising the tempera-ture of the air to about 212 Fahrenheit,and water-pipes with-in the second chamber for moderating itstemperature so that it issues from the fan at about Fahrenheit,substantially as specified.

9. In an apparatus for treating sweet potatoes, the combination withmeans for sepaa driving-shaft having two rating the pulp from the skins,a series of moving trays, subjacent steam-pipes for heating said traysfrom beneath, and an endless belt delivering the. pulp from theseparator onto the trays, the whole being located in the open air; of afan delivering a blast of air onto the pulp as it issues from theseparator,- a closed chamber having an air-intake and an. outlet-pipe, asteam-coil in this chamber for raising the temperature of the airtherein to about 212 Fahrenheit, and means for moderating thetemperature of the air passing through the outlet-pipe and delivering itto said fan without the admixture of foreign fluids, as and for thepurpose set forth.

10. In an apparatus for treating sweet potatoes, the combination withmeans for separating the pulp from the skins, a series of moving trays,and an endless belt delivering the pulp from the separator onto thetrays, the whole being located in the open air; of a fan delivering ablast of air onto the pulp as it issues from the separator, a closedchamber having an air-intake and an outlet-pipe, a steam-coil in thischamber for raising the tem perature of the air therein to about 212Fahrenheit, and means for moderating the tern perature of the airpassing through the outlet-pipe and delivering it to said fan withoutthe admixture of foreign fluids, as and for the purpose set forth. 7

11. In an apparatus for treating sweet potatoes, the'combination withmeans for separating the pulp from the skins, a series of moving trays,subjacent steam-pipes for heating said trays belt delivering the pulpfrom the separator from beneath, and an endless ontothe trays, the wholebeing located in the open air; of a fan delivering a blast of air ontothe pulp as it issues from the separator, a closed chamber connected bya pipe -to this fan, means for raising air to a suflicientlyhightemperature to sterilize it and then admitting it to this chamber, and awater-coil within said chamber for moderating the temperature of the airissuing from the fan to about 165 Fahrenheit, as and for the purpose setforth.

12. In an apparatus for treating sweet potatoes, the combination withmeans for separating the pulp from the skins, a series of moving trays,and an endless belt delivering the pulp from the separator onto the.trays, the whole being located in the open air; of a fan delivering ablast of air onto the pulp as it issues from the separator, a closedchamber connected by a pipe to this fan, means for raising air to asufficiently-high temperature to sterilize it and then admitting it tothis chamber, and a water-coil within said chamber for moderating thetemperature of the air issuing from the fan to about 165 Fahrenheit; asand for the purpose set forth. 13. In an outdoor apparatus for treatingsweet potatoes, the combination with a separator for desiccating thepulp, a frame, a series of trays moving therein, means for heatpurposeof conveying the potato pulp slowly over the steam-pipes H in thebox-frame.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings 1' have shown a detachable grip to be used forconnecting one of the trays to the cable m, which propels them, andwhich grip comprises a body R,

.having a hook to engage the tray and two parallel projections to engagethe cable.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings Ihaveshown the blowers G and G2 located so asto receive air from the moderating-chamber O and to discharge it againstthe divided pulp as it falls from the press and while on the endlessbelt 2" used to convey the pulp" to the trays; but I may discharge airunder pressure from the receptacle 0 onto the pulp as it issues from thepress and while on the traveling belt by any suitable means. I have alsoshown in Fig. 1 another blower G which may be driven by any suitablemeans and located at a proper point to force a current of air over thetrays p to remove the saturated air therefrom, and'thus more quicklydrythe pulp.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: Potatoes are placed in thebox B While the plunger 0 is in its raised position, when by applyingpower to the driving mechanism through the medium of the belt S, whichmay be connected to a source of power, (not shown,) and by pressing downon the handlever E, the friction-roller (1 will be brought into contactwith the roller d and through its gearing will operate the crank-shaftD, which will cause the plunger to descend very slowly, but with greatforce, thus separating the pulp of the potatoes from the skinsandforming it into small particles or shreds, which will issue-from thebottom of the box very slowly and while so issuing will be subiectedimmediately to currents of sterilized iir forced through the blowers Gand G or )therwise, as above stated. As the pulp falls from the box orpress it will drop to the endess belt 71, which will convey it to thetrays 9, which are caused to travel on the box- .rame II by means of theendless cable on. [he steam-pipes within thebox-frame H are nnployed toheat the air under the trays, and LS the heated air rises above thetrays it will tbSOlb moisture from the pulp, and to preent the saturatedair hanging over the pulp I prefer to use the fan or blower G to drive taway, thus allowing more air to come in :ontact with the pulp.

To dry the pulp, so that it will not contain ,ny of the germs offermentation and in such manner that none of the starch in it will behanged to dextrin, I employ the sterilizinghamber N and themoderating-chamber O. n the former the air is heated to a temperaurehigh enough to kill all germs of fermenation and to otherwise sterilizethe air, and rom this chamber the air is passed into the hamber 0, whereit is moderated by means f the water-pipe o to a proper degree toprecnt-the formation of dextrin in the starch of the pulp when is blowninto the latter. After the plunger G has reached the end of its strokethe lever E may be raised, which operation will bring thefriction-roller 01* into contact with the roller c1 and through itsgearing with the crank-shaft raise the piston veryrapidly.

While I have shown the blowers and cable as being operated by themechanism employed for operating the plunger, yet it is eviden thatother means may be employed. 7

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. 'A lever pivoted between its ends, two, journal-boxes, linksconnecting them with said ends, a shaft journaled in said boxes andhaving a centrally-disposed pulley, and a belt leading thence to asource of' power; "combined with wheels on the shaft near its ends,other wheels with which they are adapted to engage, and means forrocking the lever on its pivot, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A lever pivoted between its ends, two journal-boxes, links connectingthem with said ends, a shaft journal'ed in said boxes and havingacentrally-disposed pulley, and abelt leading thence to a sourceof power;combined with wheels on the shaft near its ends, other wheels with whichthey'are adapted to engage alternately, a power-shaft, and two trains ofgears proportioned for difierent speeds and leading respectively fromsaid other wheels to and connecting with said power-shaft, as and forthe purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a box having a foraminous bottom, a plunger, acrank-shaft connected with the plunger, a speed-shaft having large andsmall gears, and connections between said shafts; of two independ entfriction-wheels having respectively small I and large gears meshing withthe large and small gears on the speed-shaft, a rocking lever supportingjournal-boxes, the drivingshaft journaled therein and having acentrally-disposedpower-pulley belted to a source of power, andfriction-wheels on this shaft adapted to be thrown into alternateengagement with said independent friction-wheels,

as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination witha box having a foraminous bottom, a plunger, acrank-shaft connected with the plunger, a speed-shaft having large andsmall gears, and connections between said shafts; of two independentwheels having respectively small and large gears meshing with the largeand small gears on the speed-shaft, a rocking leversupportingjournal-boxes,the driving-shaft journaled therein and having acentrally disposed power-pulley belted to a source ofpower,, wheels onthis shaft adapted to be thrown into alternate engagement with saidindependent wheels, a hand-lever, and a rod connecting it with one ofsaid boxes,-all as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an apparatus for drying sweet potaing them from below, and anendless belt delivering the pulp from the separator to the trays of twoconnected closed chambers, the first having an-air-intake and the latterleading to a point to deliver the air on the pulp upon the belt, meansfor raising the air in the first chamber to a temperature sufficient tosterilize it, and means for moderating the temperature in the secondchamber to a point where itwill not produce dextrin in the pulp, as andfor the purpose set forth.

14. In an outdoor apparatus for treating sweet potatoes, the combinationwith a separator for desiccating the pulp, a frame, a series of traysmoving therein, and an endless belt delivering the pulp from theseparator to the trays; of two connected closed chambers, the firsthaving an air-intake and the latter leading to a fan delivering the airon the pulp upon the belt, means for raising, the air in the firstchamber to a temperature sufficient to sterilize it, and means formoderating the temperature in the second chamber to a point Where itwill not produce dextrin in the pulp, as and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE H. EDXVARDS.

